Keimyung's English classes

We need good English ability. Especially university students mainly want it to find a good job. Keimyung University provides students with various English classes other than English major classes. They are: English Conversation, English Composition and Grammar, Practical English, and English Reading. These classes have good and bad aspects. The “
Gazette” asked several students their thoughts about these English classes.All Keimyung University students have to take two English classes. In one semester, you attend Everyday English Conversation with a foreign professor. In the other semester, you attend Practical English with a Korean professor. When I was a high school student, I didn't attend classes with a foreign teacher. To students who never had a conversation with a foreigner, the conversation class with a foreign professor is good. Although in the conversation class we talked to each other, the conversation class didn't progress favorably because there were too many students. Although I took the conversation class, a conversation with the foreign professor was only in a test. The Practical English class was nothing special compared with high school English classes. When a professor reads and translates a textbook, I busily write that. Also, the textbook is a little easy for me. Since English is a required subject nowadays, this teaching method of English will not be useful to university students who will be members of society. It should be more useful for university students.

By Park Sul-gi
(Sophomore, Dept. of Tourism Management)I’d like to suggest three points for English classes. First, concerning students’ varying ability in compulsory classes like English Conversation, it’s not easy to narrow the varying student levels in a foreign language class. Because of that, the lower level can’t catch up with the class and higher level students get bored. Efficient systems of classes considering the varying levels of students are required in order to choose the right class for students’ confidence and improvement of English. Second, I hope the tools for reaching the class’s object and purpose will be more various. Some professors try to lead the class with one prepared textbook. There are new computers, videos, and other equipment, but still some professors don’t use them properly. For high quality and great classes, the professors are required to use various tools. Third, I hope that professors control their troublemakers more strongly. Some professors leave them to chat in class, so the rest of the students who concentrate on the class are bothered. Moreover, the atmosphere of the class gets in a mess. Role plays and group presentations are helpful for promoting cooperation and understanding between students. I hope we have professors who will help students enjoy the class and have an active attitude.

By Kim So-yeang
(Junior, Dept. of Tourism Management)Nowadays, English is required in real life. I expected that university English classes would focus on English conversation. When I was a high school student, the English class's focus was on translation and grammar. English classes at university are similar to high school English classes. I took two English classes last semester. One was Practical English and the other was Current English. In Current English, I gained pride and improved my presentation skills. Especially, I think that the group class was very good. Group study is faster and more useful than individual study. In the Practical English class, I took a speaking test, but it was not for study. That's all. I think that more conversations in Practical English class are needed. English classes have a lot of good points. The professors were very nice. I talked a lot with my professor and the class atmosphere was good. Although I don't like English and I cannot speak English well, I positively attended the two classes last semester.

By Park Hyung-su
(Freshman, Faculty of Social Sciences)The good thing about English classes is that the intelligence of professors is high. That is, the quality of the class is high. I think the professors try to raise the quality of their classes. Above all, it should be changed that only native professors are in charge of English conversation classes. I hope native professors teach other classes which are related to English. Of course, many students may avoid such classes because of a fear of a low grade. Although I know some students who want to take classes which have native professors, I think that even if there are few students who want to take them, the classes should be opened. Therefore, our university needs to employ more native professors and make more classes for them. In addition, all freshmen have to take an English conversation class. I thought my English conversation skill would improve, but it didn’t. The class focused on a text book and it was lacked of speaking practice. It was not the class that I wanted. Furthermore, we didn’t have enough conversation. It brought me disappointment.

By Lee You-jin
(Sophomore, Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.)I'm so interested in English that I attend at least 2 English classes every semester. Judging classes is not easy because it can be subjective. Some may think that class was very good but others may not agree. My English classes were good. We had excellent professors and they were passionate. For some professors, their new teaching methods impressed me. Their ways to promote students' interest made the class atmosphere better and more efficient. Moreover, our university provides us with many programs related to foreign language studying: KELI House, the International Lounge, and the Exchange Student Program are good examples of such programs. Everyday English Conversation holds a presentation contest, called the Kemmys, every semester. For the 1st prize winners, tickets to Australia are given. Finally, I think using various programs provided on campus will help us improve our English more than learning in classes.
By Son Sang-hyun
(Senior, Dept. of Business Administration)I think that the most important aspect of English class is the number of students and the quality of the lectures. I took a TOEFL class last semester that many students were concerned about. The class had about fifty to sixty students. Too many students were not a good thing for my concentration in the class. I wonder if the students exactly learnt what they wanted to acquire. The professor often asked students whether it is hard to understand or easy while in the class. A few students' positive answer made the professor keep going with the class. I think that it is not enough, no matter how often the professor asks, because satisfied students say "yes" and unsatisfied students just remained silent. I want less students in a class and I also want to take a class with students who are at the same level as me. In fact, I was a little disappointed with the Practical English class that freshman should take. I expected that the English class in university would be different from high school, but the class was almost the same as my high school's English class. I just memorized words and grammar from a textbook. I felt that the test was just a means to know how much students memorized the textbook. I think that our university’s English classes should teach a higher quality of English.

By Kim Seung-kyung
(Sophomore, Dept. of English Lang. & Lit.)